transport

The Committee’s first representative on the State Executive Committee was Mr J. Crawford MLA. On 29 January, at an interview with Mr Magnus, General Manager of the Mining Company, it was agreed to take over the control of the Ambulance Corps and an Honorary Centre was established at the mine works. Mr Magnus appointed three members of the company’s staff to assist the Committee in dealing with matters relating to the Honorary Centre. A piece of land facing Central Street, was leased to the Brigade at a nominal rental. In March 1913, a wagon of ‘the most up-to-date principle for ease and comfort’ was ordered from an Ipswich coach builder at a cost of £92. In April, the tender of Mr T.T. Cornes was accepted for the erection of a new ambulance building at the corner of Bedsor and Central Streets at a cost of £429 exclusive of hardwood; the hardwood was being purchased from the Company at cost price. The plant in 1913 consisted of one horse (Bryce), a wagon fitted with rubber tires, poles and shafts, a convertible stretcher, one set of single harnesses, one complete Ashford litter, and a collapsible stretcher. The plant at the mine Honorary Centre consisted of one litter complete, one special litter truck, one mining stretcher, and eight collapsible stretchers. The Mount Morgan Centre was responsible for opening Centres at Banana, Springsure, Wowan, Baralaba and Theodore. The financial year 1927-1928 was a catastrophic one for the Centre principally due to the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company going into liquidation. As well as the consequent loss of employment to hundreds of wage earners and a reduction in business activity generally throughout the town and district, a fire on 27 January 1928 destroyed practically the whole of the Centre building stock with the exception of the ambulance vehicles. The Committee later purchased the buildings and land for a figure which was highly satisfactory. These premises were occupied until the shift into the present premises. Source: www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/docs/history/Mount-Morgan.pdf

Prior to the formation of the QATB service in Roma, Mr A.C. Hoskins carried out the work of transporting patients to the hospital. He commenced this work in an honorary capacity in 1903. Dr A.A. Doyle then became interested and was responsible for the firsthand litter, which was purchased from public subscriptions. In the work of transportation, Mr Hoskins was assisted by members of the Fire Brigade, namely J.H.D. Grant, J.W. Sparks, Mat Reid, J.J. Graham and Chas Moore. In those days the litter was housed at the Fire Station which was then in the main portion of the town. Transportation was over very rough roads, and the pushing of the litter up the hospital hill was no mean effort. Mr Hoskins gained his First Aid Certificate in 1910 and continued his good work in an honorary capacity until the inauguration of the Ambulance as a Branch Centre of the QATB in October 1915. In November 1913, the QATB Toowoomba Committee established a Sub-Centre in Roma and appointed Mr J.J. Harland as Officer-in-Charge with the rank of Deputy Superintendent. The first important business to occupy the Committee’s attention was the proposal to purchase a motor ambulance, and Mr. H.A. Watson, on behalf of the Wallumbilla residents, guaranteed £50 towards this project. In April 1916, the Ford car was delivered and proved a boon to the service. The report for the month of May showed the car had traveled 57 miles in that month. In 1921, a rail car was purchased to enable patients to be brought in from places on the Injune line during wet weather. The rail ambulance carried two lengths of the line which were placed on the tracks for the car to run onto and then turned to face the way home to Roma. Source: www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/docs/history/Roma.pdf

As a postcard -

Google Maps streetview - goo.gl/maps/KkhTzBsoJamUMUog8 Unusually, more than a few buildings are still there!

Interesting article from 1895 when they were thinking of a tramway in Erskine St. - trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14025055 Eventually The King Street tram was extended along Day St to Erskine with a turning loop ar the wharf. Not sure when that happened or if it is visible in this photo ...